McLucas_William

William R. McLucas

McLucas_William

William R. McLucas

Partner

Washington DC + 1 202 663 6622

William McLucas is one of the most sought-after advisors to public companies, boards of directors, audit committees and special committees dealing with corporate crises and related issues. He joined the firm after serving for more than eight years as Director of Enforcement for the Securities and Exchange Commission—longer than any other Enforcement Division Director in Commission history. He represents public companies, investment banks, accounting firms and advisors to mutual funds facing a variety of corporate and market crises, as well as Securities and Exchange Commission investigations.

In 1977, Mr. McLucas joined the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Enforcement. He led the Division's Staff in numerous high-profile investigations and landmark enforcement actions, including hundreds of insider trading cases and numerous inquiries and proceedings involving public companies, accounting firms, investment banks, and participants in the municipal securities markets.

In addition, Mr. McLucas has overseen numerous audit committee and special committee inquiries, and has also represented numerous corporate executives and directors in connection with Securities and Exchange Commission investigations.

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business describes Mr. McLucas as "absolutely a star" and "a cut above everyone else." 

Professional Activities

Mr. McLucas is a frequent speaker on panels and programs on topics pertaining to securities laws, corporate governance and law enforcement.

  • SIFMA Compliance and Legal Society Annual Seminar

    The SIFMA Compliance and Legal Society Annual Seminar is the premier event for compliance and legal professionals working in the financial services industry.

    March 24–27, 2019
    Read More

  • SEC Enforcement—Current Developments and What's Ahead for 2019

    In this annual webcast, the Securities Docket’s panel will discuss key SEC enforcement issues from 2018, now, and what to expect ahead. 

    February 22, 2019
    Read More

Experience

  • Represented the board committees in some of the most prominent corporate scandals that have arisen recently in the US markets, including the Special Committees of both Enron and WorldCom.

  • Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Nortel Networks in its review of certain accounting restatements and, more recently, the Special Committee of the Board of UnitedHealth Group in its review of options dating issues.
  • Represented numerous public companies and their executives, as well as public accounting firms and hedge funds in connection with securities enforcement and regulatory inquiries.

Recognition

  • Recognized in Who's Who Legal - Investigations 2024 guide.
  • Named a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2021–2024).
  • Named a Fellow of the American College of Governance Counsel in 2015.
  • Nationally recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community in Chambers USA Guide as "a dominant force" in the securities regulation: enforcement area (2006–2024). Previously recognized in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 editions for general commercial litigation; cited as "an expert in litigation" in the 2003 edition.
  • Inducted into the Lawdragon Magazine Hall of Fame in 2018, which "celebrates lawyers whose mark on the legal profession is indelible." Mr. McLucas was previously honored regularly on the magazine’s annual list of 500 Leading Lawyers in America.
  • Consistently recommended by The Legal 500 United States for financial services and securities litigation, and listed as a "Leading Lawyer" in the area of litigation: white-collar criminal defense in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions.
  • Included on Securities Docket's Enforcement 40 list in 2017 and 2013.
  • Recognized in 2008 as a Visionary in the Legal Times' "Greatest Washington Lawyers in the Past 30 Years."
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in each edition of Best Lawyers in America since 2005 and recognized for his securities practice along with the areas of bet-the-company litigation, corporate governance and compliance law, and commercial litigation. He was also named Washington DC Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year for 2019, Washington DC Corporate Compliance Law Lawyer of the Year for 2018, Washington DC Securities Lawyer of the Year for 2010, and Washington DC Corporate Governance Law for 2016.
  • Recognized as one of the world's preeminent corporate governance lawyers in multiple editions of Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Corporate Governance Lawyers; Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers; Who's Who Legal: Investigations; Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defence; Who's Who Legal: Commercial Litigation; and Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Investigations Lawyers, with sources saying he is “highly sought after by companies, boards and audit committees in need of advice on corporate crises." 
  • Selected to the 2007–2024 Washington DC Super Lawyers lists for his securities and corporate finance practice.
  • Listed in Washingtonian magazine's "Top 30 Lawyers in Washington," 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2011. Named among "Washington's Best Lawyers" for his securities practice in the 2013 issue.
  • Selected as one of only seven "Leading Lawyers" in Corporate Governance in the March 2008 issue of Legal Times. He was also named Washington DC's "Leading Lawyer" in the area of securities and corporate governance by the Legal Times, December 2004.
  • Ranked as a "top litigation lawyer" in the 2003 edition of Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Litigation Lawyers.
  • Received the SEC Alumni Association's William O. Douglas Award in 2010.
  • Named one of the National Law Journal's One Hundred Most Influential Attorneys in America, 1997.
  • Received the Federal Bar Association's Tom C. Clark Outstanding Lawyer Award in 1997.
  • Received the National Public Service Award in 1996.
  • Received the President's Award for Distinguished Executive Service from President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

Insights & News

View all of William's insights & news

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, Temple University Beasley School of Law, 1975

      Research Editor, Temple Law Quarterly

    • BA, Pennsylvania State University, 1972

      Phi Beta Kappa

  • Admissions

    • District of Columbia

    • New York

    • Pennsylvania

  • Government Experience

    • Securities and Exchange Commission

      Division of Enforcement

      Director

Credentials

Notice

Unless you are an existing client, before communicating with WilmerHale by e-mail (or otherwise), please read the Disclaimer referenced by this link.(The Disclaimer is also accessible from the opening of this website). As noted therein, until you have received from us a written statement that we represent you in a particular manner (an "engagement letter") you should not send to us any confidential information about any such matter. After we have undertaken representation of you concerning a matter, you will be our client, and we may thereafter exchange confidential information freely.

Thank you for your interest in WilmerHale.

I Accept Cancel